The first start after a long sleep is when most damage is done. Dry bores, hardened oil, stale fuel and seized brakes turn an eager owner into a repairer. A calm hour of checks costs nothing, and the engine will thank you. This is the short version. The full story is in the blog post waking up a motorcycle that has been sitting for years.
1. Look before you touch
- Check for mice and nests in the air filter, exhaust, under the seat and in the airbox. Rodents also chew wiring and fuel hose.
- Look for leaks, puddles and rust on the floor under the bike.
- Check the tyres. Cracked, flat-spotted or very old tyres are not safe: see brakes, tyres and ageing rubber.
- Check the wheels and the brake levers move freely.
2. Fuel
- Old petrol turns to varnish and gum. If the bike has stood for more than a few months, drain the tank and the carburettors.
- Look into the tank with a torch for rust and sludge. Clean or reline it if needed.
- Check the fuel tap and the hoses for cracks and leaks.
- Fill with fresh fuel. See fuel, ethanol and the fuel system.
3. Oil
- Check the level and condition. Milky oil means water, and black sludge means it has not been changed.
- If the oil is old, change it and the filter before you run the engine.
- On dry-sump engines the oil may have drained into the crankcase while the bike was standing. Follow the procedure in the manual to check it. See oil and lubrication.
4. Turn the engine over with the plugs out
- Remove the spark plugs.
- Turn the engine over by hand, with the gearbox in neutral, or use the kickstart gently. Many owners also use the starter motor with the plugs out and the ignition disabled.
- This circulates oil to the bearings and moves the pistons without compression. If the engine will not turn, stop. A seized engine can be freed, but not by force.
- Some owners add a few drops of oil to each cylinder before turning the engine. This is common practice for engines that have stood a long time, though opinions differ.
5. Battery and electrics
- Charge the battery or fit a new one. A battery that has stood for years is probably finished. Observe the polarity: see electrics and ignition.
- Clean the contacts, check the earths and test the lights, horn and brake light.
- Inspect the points or the ignition components.
6. Brakes and cables
- Check the brake fluid and the hoses. Seized calipers and cracked hoses are common after storage.
- Lubricate the cables and the pivot points.
- Check the chain or the final drive: see chain and final drive.
7. The first start
- Fit clean plugs, with the right gap.
- Check that fuel reaches the carburettors, and tickle or choke as the manual says.
- Start the engine and listen. Look for oil pressure on the gauge or the warning light, and for leaks.
- Let it idle gently and bring it to temperature. Do not rev it hard while it is cold.
- Stop it and check for leaks again.
8. The first ride
Ride a short distance at low speed, with a good space around you. Test the brakes before you need them. Come back and check the tightness of bolts, oil level and leaks. After a few short rides, change the oil again, since the first oil will carry the dirt of the restart.
When to stop and call a specialist
- The engine does not turn by hand.
- Oil is milky.
- There are metallic noises on starting.
- The brakes do not hold.
